Add a little warm-weather spring to your step with my lightened-up Reduced Sugar Pineapple Upside-Down Mini Cake recipe! Make a half dozen little cakes from scratch in under an hour with this easy recipe for adorable individual-sized desserts.

mini pineapple upside down cake on a wooden cutting board with pineapple flowers and a pineapple crown.

While I’m a big fan of my Grilled Pineapple Upside-Down Skillet Cake, I usually spend the 40 days of Lent abstaining from sugar. As luck would have it, my friends over at Truvia have made some excellent zero-calorie substitutes for baking, which means I can bake my cake and eat it, too!

About This Recipe

There’s something deeply nostalgic about Pineapple Upside-Down cakes. My mom used to make them in the spring, and even though I was always more of a salty-spicy kinda gal, I couldn’t resist the tropical allure of that pineapple, brown sugar, and butter-based top.

As I’ve gotten older, I still generally prefer savory indulgences but have a soft spot for from-scratch treats. With summer fast approaching, it is imperative that I make the transition from all the hearty, rib-sticking fare that I love during the winter to lighter, more seasonally appropriate recipes.

This lightened-up version of my favorite childhood cake recipe is a perfect healthier-for-you alternative. These Reduced Sugar pineapple upside-down mini cakes still boast a moist, tender crumb thanks to the addition of sour cream, and the top is just as buttery and caramelly as I remember. 

The only difference? Truvia Sweet Complete Sweeteners replace all of the added sugar (and a fair share of calories) while keeping all of the deliciously sweet flavors I remember from childhood!

bags of granulated and brown truvia sweet complete with the remaining ingredients for making pineapple upside down mini cakes on a white surface.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Making these homemade, Reduced Sugar mini cakes is a snap, and you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand! Here’s everything you’ll need:

  • Unsalted Butter – Feel free to swap in your favorite plant-based alternative if you prefer.
  • Truvia Sweet Complete Brown Sweetener – This amazing zero calorie sweetener measures cup-for-cup just like regular brown sugar and has all the molasses-caramel flavor I crave for pineapple upside-down cake. 
  • Maraschino Cherries – These bright, candy-flavored confections are a signature of any pineapple upside-down cake. If you prefer to avoid artificial colors, opt for a natural brand that uses beet juice for the coloring agent, or simply make your own. 
  • Pineapple Slices – I generally opt to use fresh pineapple whenever possible. Watch this video on how to cut your pineapple like a pro! You can also opt to use canned pineapple rings if you prefer. Just be sure to grab the kind that are packed in juice instead of syrup in order to keep the added sugar to a minimum.
  • All-Purpose Flour – In a pinch, you can always use cake flour instead. 
  • Baking Powder – Don’t confuse this with baking soda, as they react differently. Also, be sure that you preheat your oven before starting to make the batter; baking powder begins to start working as soon as it hits liquid.
  • Truvia Sweet Complete Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener  – This is a granulated stevia sweetener with zero calories per serving that bakes and browns in recipes. Because Sweet Complete is designed to measure cup-for-cup like conventional sugar, you can easily swap it into all of your favorite recipes!
  • Eggs – Remember to allow your eggs to come to room temperature before making this pineapple upside-down cake recipe; they’ll incorporate into the batter much more easily, which will prevent you from overmixing.
  • Neutral Oil – Any neutral-flavored oil will work here: canola, vegetable, corn, grapeseed, or peanut oil will all do the trick.
  • Sour Cream – Again, be sure to let your ingredients come to room temperature before mixing the cake batter. This will help prevent overmixing, which can result in tough cakes.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract – I love the flavor of pure vanilla extract, but you can also use vanilla or paste if you prefer. If you’d like something a little different, try swapping in almond extract instead.

Equipment 

You don’t need much to make these mini pineapple upside-down cakes a reality! Aside from your normal kitchen equipment like spatulas and mixing bowls, you’ll just need to grab:

  • 6 x 4-inch Ramekins – In order to make mini pineapple upside-down cakes, you’ll need a vessel that is *just* large enough for a pineapple ring to fit. I used 4-inch ramekins, but you could also try using a jumbo muffin tin instead.

How to Make 

These mini pineapple upside-down cakes are so easy to pull off! In less than an hour’s time, you’ll have a delicious, Reduced Sugar treat to share with your family. Here’s how it’s done:

Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 6 (4-inch) ramekins and set aside.

overhead shot of two ramekins with a pineapple ring and maraschino cherries with a bag of brown truvia sweet complete next to a saucepan of the caramel topping for upsdie down cakes.

Make Topping: In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat; stir in Truvia Sweet Complete Brown Sweetener. Cook and stir over medium heat until sweetener is dissolved. Remove from the heat.

close up of two ramekins with pineapple and maraschino cherries, one of which has the brown sugar caramel topping on top.

Assemble Pineapple Topping: Place pineapple slices in each ramekin and place a cherry in the center ring. Spoon 1 tablespoon brown sugar and butter mixture in each ramekin. 

cake batter added to two white ramekins.

Make Cake Batter: Combine dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and salt. In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla until smooth. Slowly combine dry mixture with wet ingredients and beat until smooth.

Bake: Fill ramekins two-thirds full. Bake cakes for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool & Enjoy! Cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto wire racks to cool completely. 

overhead shot of 3 mini pineapple upside down cakes on a wooden cutting board with bags of truvia sweet complete off to the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these mini cakes ahead of time?

Absolutely! Once baked and cooled, my mini Reduced Sugar pineapple upside-down cakes can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

Do I need to refrigerate mini pineapple upside-down cakes?

Since upside-down cakes are super moist from the caramel topping, I suggest refrigerating any leftovers after no more than 24 hours at room temperature.

Can I make this recipe without dairy?

Of course! Simply swap in your favorite plant-based butter and sour cream substitutes. 

Can I make them gluten-free?

While I haven’t tried it myself, I believe these mini cakes would come out well if you were to swap in your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. 

More Light Spring Dessert Recipes

If you tried this recipe for my lightened-up Reduced Sugar Pineapple Upside-Down Mini Cakes, please be sure to rate and review it below!

Reduced Sugar Pineapple Upside-Down Mini Cakes

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Add a little warm-weather spring to your step with my lightened-up Reduced Sugar Pineapple Upside-Down Mini Cake recipe! Make a half dozen little cakes from scratch in under an hour with this easy recipe for adorable individual-sized desserts. 
Print Pin Rate
Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  • Grease 6 (4-inch) ramekins and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat; stir in Truvia Sweet Complete Brown Sweetener. Cook and stir over medium heat until sweetener is dissolved. Remove from the heat. Place pineapple slices in each ramekin and place a cherry in the center ring. Spoon 1 tablespoon brown sweetener and butter mixture in each ramekin. 
  • Combine dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and salt. 
  • In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla until smooth. 
  • Slowly combine dry mixture with wet ingredients and beat until smooth.
  • Fill ramekins two-thirds full. Bake cakes for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto wire racks to cool completely. 

Notes

  • Once baked and cooled, my mini Reduced Sugar pineapple upside-down cakes can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
  • PRO TIP: Make sure to let your eggs and sour cream come to room temperature before making the batter so they can incorporate more easily. This will prevent overmixing the batter, which can result in tough cakes.
  • Feel free to make these mini cakes dairy-free by using your favorite plant-based butter and sour cream substitutes.
Calories: 483kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 36g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 16g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 96mg, Sodium: 128mg, Potassium: 255mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 579IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 91mg, Iron: 2mg
Author: Yvette Marquez
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Photography by Jenna Sparks

This post is in partnership with Truvia® sweetener. As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.